The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-06-29

| cd, and the blackborries fermented
and blew the tops of the cans ant
broke the cellar windows. And, Roxy
II I'll stop in some afternoon will yor
show me that new crochet stitch?-
the one in shells and waves, you know
like Mrs. Deacon Dodd's shawl"
Roxy promised that she would, ano
set forth, wondering to herself why il
was that she lacked the moral courage
to ask Docia for instruction in my
mysteries OF the wash-tub just u:
frankly as Docia had requested hel
assistance in unraveling the perplexi
ties OF the new crochet stitch.
81 think must be a dreadful goose
sighed Roxy. "But, all the same, that
washing has got to be done, whether
/ well or i'll. 1t can't be worse thar
those algebra problems in the second
book. AS X and y equals 2, so must
soap, water. and plenty oil sunshine
equal clean clothes"
And so the next morning, wher
Aunt Sally had eaten the ham anc
eggs which Roxy had now learned tc
Try in so appetizing a manner, and
drunk the coffee which was as cleai
as any amber, she set fourth on hei
daily task OF root and herb hunting.
and Roxy carried the basket OF clothes
out to the shore OF the brook, where
mighty old chestnut tree spread its
dome OF shade, washed and wrung and
rinsed them until it was q mercy that
there were any two threads left to-
gether. Then she hung them out on
the lines, which she had stretched
from tree to tree, skewering each art
icle safely in its place with wooden
pins, so that no frolicsome wind
should lure it away.
"Andnow," said Roxy, as with head
slightly on one side she viewed the re
suit OF her prowess, 81 think I've
earned little rest" And drawing a
"Franklin Square" novel from her
pocket, Roxy sat down under the big
tree, with her sun-bonnet thrown back,
her loose curls tangled over her fore.
head, ard her round white arms still
bare TO the shoulder, to read, and be
fore she knew it she was asleep.
When she awakened she was nc
longer alone. Between her and the
sunshine there was-could she believe
her eyes?-yea, verify there was
young man hurriedly work
ing at a portable easel, which
was set up on level spot on
the grass, with all the composure and
aplomb OF young man who felt him.
self to be in the right place in crea'
| tons diagram. She looked at him
with solemn, sleep-shadowed eyes; he
looked back at her exactly as ii
she was part OF the landscape, and
worked on in silence.
care you an artist?" said she
care you painting the old chestnut
tree? Oh, you must be the gentleman
that Docia Honeywell told me about"
And then she suddenly remembered
the tangled fringe OF curls, the round,
uncovered arms, and jumped up in o
panic OF very becoming confusion.
~ am Mark Jefferys, said the artist,
composedly. eyes | am boarding at
Squire Honeywell's house. Andyou?"
~ am Roxy Stephens" said the
girl, hurriedly pulling down her calico
sleeves. "If you will just step up to
the house | will give you jar OF wild
plums that promised to Docia; that
is" with an abrupt consciousness Of
her own temerityl "if yNu don't
mind carrying it.
And this was the maLisr -. cir
frat acquaintance.
Roxy was very sorry when Mr.
Jefferys returned to the city. 1t
seemed as il his absence left yawing
hiatus in her life, which had not pre-
viously been eventful or rich in Incl.
dents. But she did not know how
more than sorry Mark Jefferys was
to part from her.
"Full many flower is born to blush
unseen" he quoted to himself after
the hackneyed style of the young man
in general when the little winged god
has him at disadvantage. ''But she
shall not blush unseen IL my pictures
in this years exhibition bring their
price She shall be my wife-always
supposing that she considers me wor-
thy OF the treasure-trove OF her love.
| will wear her like a flower on my
heart. 1 think-yes, 1 THINK she likes
me little now. am quite sure that
il lad the chance | could make her
like me Just little more"
And so now and then he ventured
to write to her, lest by any chance she
might forget that such a person ex-
listed.
Now in real life things will some
times happen as strangely as they do
in novels. And it came to pass that
in the mid-April time, when the skies
above and violets below are blue with
blueness that no description can
equal, Docia Honeywell came up to
| Naw Work. m h.lv her self n silk dress